BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 9.​ The court
proceedings in the criminal case against Armenian citizen Ruben
Vardanyan, charged under multiple articles of the Criminal Code of
the Republic of Azerbaijan relating to crimes against peace and
humanity, war crimes, terrorism, financing of terrorism, and other
grave offenses, continued on December 9, Trend reports.
The open court session at the Baku Military Court, chaired by
Judge Zeynal Aghayev and composed of judges Anar Rzayev and Jamal
Ramazanov (reserve judge: Gunel Samadova), provided the accused
with a Russian-language interpreter and a state-appointed defense
lawyer.
Presiding Judge Zeynal Aghayev introduced the panel of judges,
the prosecutors representing the state accusation, the
interpreters, and other participants to the victims and their legal
successors, who were taking part in the proceedings for the first
time. He also explained their rights and obligations under the
law.
Subsequently, the court heard statements from the victims.
The next court hearing has been scheduled for December 12.
Ruben Vardanyan faces multiple charges under the Criminal Code
of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including Articles 100.1, 100.2
(planning, preparing, initiating, and waging a war of aggression),
107 (deportation and forced displacement of the population), 109
(persecution), 110 (forcible disappearance of persons), 112
(deprivation of liberty contrary to international law), 113
(torture), 114.1 (mercenary activity), 115.2 (violation of the laws
and customs of warfare), 116.0.1, 116.0.2, 116.0.10, 116.0.11,
116.0.16, 116.0.18 (violation of international humanitarian law
norms during an armed conflict), 120.2.1, 120.2.3, 120.2.4,
120.2.7, 120.2.11, 120.2.12 (intentional murder), 29.120.2.1,
29.120.2.3, 29.120.2.4, 29.120.2.7, 29.120.2.11, 29.120.2.12
(attempted intentional murder), 192.3.1 (illegal entrepreneurship),
214.2.1, 214.2.3, 214.2.4 (terrorism), 214-1 (financing of
terrorism), 218.1, 218.2 (creation of a criminal group), 228.3
(illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, and
possession of firearms, ammunition, explosives, and devices),
270-1.2, 270-1.4 (acts threatening aviation safety), 278.1
(forcible seizure or retention of power, forcible change of the
constitutional structure of the state), 279.1, 279.2, 279.3
(creation of armed formations not provided for by law), and 318.2
(illegal crossing of the state border of the Republic of
Azerbaijan).
The preliminary investigation of the criminal case against Ruben
Vardanyan, accused under articles concerning crimes against peace
and humanity, war crimes, terrorism, financing of terrorism, and
other offenses, was conducted by the State Security Service of the
Republic of Azerbaijan.